The Fourth Trimester: How Occupational Therapy Can Transform Postpartum Care

Melissa O’Neal
OTR/L

Continuing Education Unit:

Professional Hour

0.1 CEUs

$30.00

Standard price

0.1 Professional Hour

$30.00

Limited sale price

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Course Description

The postpartum period, often called the “fourth trimester,” is a crucial yet frequently overlooked phase of maternal recovery and family adjustment. Occupational therapists are uniquely positioned to support mothers and families during this time, addressing challenges related to sleep, feeding, mental health, role transitions, and infant development. This webinar explores how postpartum care aligns with OT’s scope of practice according to the OTPF-4 framework, providing evidence-based strategies to enhance maternal and family well-being. Participants will gain practical knowledge to understand and address the functional needs of postpartum families.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
-Define the fourth trimester and explain how OT principles align with the needs of postpartum mothers and families.
-Analyze common postpartum challenges (sleep, feeding, mental health, role transitions) and their impact on daily occupations.
-Apply OT-based, function-centered interventions to support postpartum recovery and family routines.
-Explain how environmental modifications and sensory strategies enhance postpartum care.
-Identify opportunities for interprofessional collaboration to provide comprehensive postpartum support.

Target Audience

Provider : ReadySetConnect

Financial Disclosure

ReadySetConnect collects fees from the audience to participate in this training webinar

Contact Information

E-mail : support@readysetconnect.com

Phone: 877-254-4588

Non - Financial Disclosure

The provider of the webinar, ReadySetConnect, is a practice management software. Participants of the webinar would become aware of the ReadySetConnect.

Prerequisites

None

Time Ordered Agenda

The Fourth Trimester: How Occupational Therapy Can Transform Postpartum Care

How Occupational Therapy Can Transform Postpartum Care

50:12
Downloadable content

00:00

Introduction: 0:00 – 5:36 minutes
The Fourth Trimester & OT’s Role – 5:36 – 11:42 minutes
Postpartum Challenges Through an OT Lens – 11:43 – 24:22 minutes
OT’s Scope of Practice in Postpartum Care – 24:23 – 34:57 minutes
Evidence-Based OT interventions for Postpartum Care – 34:58 – 47:56 minutes
How can OT Reshape Postpartum Care – 47:56 – 50:12 minutes

This event is offered for 1 contact hour or 0.1 Professional Hour CEUs at an introductory level professional area. Course completion is dependent on full attendance for 1 hour and survey completion.

ReadySetConnect is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. PD activity approval ID #12463. This distance learning-independent activity is offered at 0.1 CEUs, introductory OT Service Delivery and Foundational Knowledge. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA or indicate AOTA approval of a certification or other professional recognition.

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Meet The Speakers

Melissa O’Neal, OTR/L

Meet Melissa O’Neal, OTR/L, a postpartum advocate whose mission was born from personal experience. After her son’s birth 15 years ago, she felt the stark contrast between abundant pregnancy care and the void that followed. This gap revealed a perfect opportunity for occupational therapy to make a meaningful difference.

With over a decade of hands-on experience working with families, Melissa is passionate about highlighting how postpartum support naturally aligns with OT’s scope of practice. From ADLs and routines to mental health and physical recovery, she demonstrates how OTs are uniquely positioned to address the complex needs of new parents.

Join Melissa for a session filled with practical wisdom and heartfelt insights from someone who’s been there. She’s equipping fellow practitioners with the knowledge and confidence to step into this vital practice area—creating the postpartum support system every new family deserves and that fits perfectly within our professional calling.

A Word from the Speaker

“Hey there, I’m Melissa, an OT with over 10 years of postpartum magic up my sleeve, all sparked by my phenomenal 15-year-old son. I’m here to light up your passion for supporting new moms! Full scoop: I still work hands-on with moms and babies – both in-person and virtually – because nothing beats that connection. “

Financial Dislosure

Speaker receives compensation from ReadySetConnect for this engagement

Melissa is the founder and CEO of The Postpartum OT, that offers a variety of free and paid resources which may be referenced in this presentation

Non - Financial Dislosure

Melissa O’Neal, OTR/L, has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose.

Special Requests

Special accomodations may be requested. Please email Education@ReadySetConnect.com indicating your special needs and accomodation requests.

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Share This Event

See What Participants Are Saying

Bernice

It was perfect. Dawn was engaging. She gave relevant information and examples. I would have liked a few more examples of therapy materials and ideas that might be used.

Dawn

The presenter was engaging and informative. Could always use more Q&A. I had fun and am glad I did it

Deborah

Excellent, engaging, knowledgeable speaker, clear, etc. Maybe spending less time on the checklists to prepare and more. I would have liked to see examples of therapy (videos), more time on actual therapy and therapy ideas, small group breakout session so that we could discuss our experiences and help each other out, networking with other teletherapists. Liked the platform used, very clear presentation, excellent, thank you

Doretha

Very knowledgeable. It was a good webinar. The information was useful and beneficial.

Jayla

Amazing speaker! This was so helpful!

Jeanne

It was satisfactory. Dawn shared her information clearly

Jenna

I loved the checklist for coaching/facilitators. It met all my expectations!

Jessica

Informative, great resources, getting on the same page with the parents. Great, informative, helpful for future sessions

Kelsey

Knowledgeable presenter. I think it did a good job. Thanks for it- well done.

Lourdes

The knowledge of the speaker. Great presentation.

Maureen

The clarity nd simplcity. Very organized and inclusive. For me they served my needs quite well. Well done.

Nereida

The program was very detailed and discussed scenarios that we may come across in the field. I did not observe any weaknesses in the program. Any questions I had before the program were answered. I really appreciate the work that was put into this program to better prepare us when providing services during virtual sessions.

Nicolette

Dawn was very encouraging and promoted out of the box thinking. Too much time dedicated to virtual set-up vs. therapy with telepractice.

Pristine Sara

More insights on materials and resources that were completely new. Understanding certain areas of tele practices and modifications to be made in the learning part. Very interesting and looking forward to many such webinars that address tele rehabilitation area.

Rachel

The checklists hat were provided. I was a great presentation with lots of great information as I begin my telehealth journey. I was hoping for more therapy ideas, but it was awesome!

Tanya

Speakers experience and demeanor. Thank you!

Alexandra

Resources, personal examples and personal examples. Would be great to have one case study, and a run-down example of session layout.

Joanne

Very informative. Great ideas for parent teaching and carry over. It was great. Thank you.

Givona

Good emphasis on parent coaching. Took a long time to get to the point of the presentation, presenter did not seem prepared. Thank you for this helpful information.

Patricia

Cohesive and relevant information. Again, I enjoyed the presentation and thought the information was helpful.

Sharece

The detailed slides. It was a little long so I found it hard to focus the entire time. I think it being more straight to the point would help.

Tracy

Great checklists. Would love to see examples of teletherapy sessions. Thank you!

Yaritza

Loved the cultural humility aspect and the checklist resources. I wish we would have seen a specific example of a session played. More examples of activities in sessions with parent vs one on one with a child. It was good overall. The presenter was very knowledgable with tons of experience.

Amanda

Addressed diversity and meeting families where they are but not enough concrete examples

Amy

Dawn provided links to great resources. It was a very broad overview. Dawn was a great speaker, very personable and organized!

Candy

Materials that I was unaware of are very helpful. Hope she suggested ideas or techniques that are not too ordinary that every SLPs uses

Celeste

Checklists for evidence based practice are the best. Provided strategies, activities, websites to integrate into Zoom such as BoomCards

Nicole

Great self-evaluations. Model examples of teaching via video.